Entry for Chelsea 2009
The Pilgrim’s Rest wins Chris O’Donoghue an RHS Chelsea Silver Gilt.
From the Middle Ages, herb gardens, attached to monasteries, have been used as places of rest, reflection and meditation. Primarily, of course, they were designed to grow herbs for culinary, medicinal and dyeing purposes and would have been packed with plants with wonderful forms and textures giving off the most delicious scents. “The Pilgrim’s Rest” was inspired by these gardens and aimed to give an impression of a small, peaceful garden, attached to the ruins of an old monastic stone building.
The backdrop was a ruined wall with a covered timber walkway leading to an old door in the centre. Raised beds and fencing were made from split hazel screens and a thatched dovecote, medieval pattern wheelbarrow, benches, a chamomile seat and straw bee skeps set the scene.
Designing, restoring and planting gardens across Kent, Sussex and Surrey
Unlike my namesake, Capability Brown, I don’t tend to sweep clear all that lies before me and start afresh. I prefer to use a subtle approach, carefully surveying what is in the garden already and incorporating the best and most desirable elements into the new design.
